Chapter 948: The Peculiar Young Man
The courtesan houses of Jiangnan truly were a world apart from those in Shaanxi.
The moment he stepped to the entrance, a distinct ambiance enveloped him.
The entrance to the Pear Garden was festooned with red banners and vibrant streamers, silks and satins draped everywhere. On the second floor, a row of small balconies hosted a throng of beautiful women. They leaned over the railings, playfully batting their eyelashes at the travelers below.
From time to time, voices called out, "Come up and enjoy yourself, handsome!"
"Brother Li, it's been so long! Don't you miss me?"
The melodious strains of strings and flutes drifted over the walls. Faintly, a woman's song could be heard, her voice so graceful and enchanting that anyone listening would instantly imagine a peerless beauty.
Zhu Piaoling's eyes immediately widened in awe. Even Li Daoxuan, who had scrolled through countless online videos and seen photos of innumerable stunning actresses from the future, couldn't help but let out a sigh of admiration. "Unbelievable!" he thought. "They haven't even reached the Qinhuai River yet, and this is just a Suzhou Pear Garden, but it's already overflowing with beauties. And they're all naturally gorgeous, at most with a touch of rouge and powder. No cosmetic enhancements or heavy filters, not like women in the future who wear so much makeup you wouldn't recognize them after they take it off."
Zhu Piaoling's legs went wobbly. The Heavenly Lord quickly cleared his throat.
Zhu Piaoling's spirits immediately rallied. "Whoa! I almost succumbed!"
"Forgive me, Heavenly Lord," Zhu Piaoling said, his voice contrite. "It seems this humble servant is still hopelessly accustomed to luxury, decadence, and an aimless, restless existence. Despite striving for change under your divine guidance, my resolve remains insufficient."
Li Daoxuan conveyed, "Attraction between men and women is a natural thing. But a man must not lose his composure when faced with beauty. He must hold firm to his principles, neither fawning shamelessly nor behaving without decorum. Do you understand?"
"Understood!"
"Good. Go on in."
Zhu Piaoling strode with renewed purpose toward the Pear Garden's grand entrance.
The madam immediately hurried forward to greet him. Though Zhu Piaoling's face was concealed by a straw hat and veil, the imposing presence of his entourage of loyal guards made it clear even to a fool that he was a man of immense wealth. The madam instantly showered him with effusive flattery as she ushered him into the main hall. "Esteemed sir, as you are newly arrived and don't yet have a familiar companion," she purred, "perhaps you'd like to sit in the main hall for a while? Enjoy the music and dances, and if later you find a young lady to your liking, it won't be too late to ascend to a private room on the second floor for a few drinks."
Zhu Piaoling had no intention of venturing upstairs; the main hall was perfectly suited for his purpose. He simply wished to absorb the unique cultural atmosphere of a Jiangnan pleasure quarter.
Li Daoxuan shared the sentiment.
Unexpectedly, no sooner had the two settled down, before they'd even finished a cup of tea, when they heard the boisterous voices of several young men from a nearby table. Their conversation was loud enough to carry to every surrounding patron, revealing a distinct lack of refinement.
Both Zhu Piaoling and Li Daoxuan instinctively turned their heads to see.
At a glance, they seemed to be a group of privileged young men, most in their early twenties. Yet, one among them stood out: a boy of only fourteen or fifteen, with a broad face and wide forehead, and a decidedly unrefined air that starkly contrasted with his companions.
The Heavenly Lord couldn't help but voice his exasperation. "What a world we live in! Boys of fourteen or fifteen already frequenting courtesan houses, not even adults yet! Utterly improper."
"Huh? Is that too early?" Zhu Piaoling blurted out. "I was twelve when I first entered a courte—" He caught himself, stopping abruptly, realizing his slip.
Though he only spoke half the word, Li Daoxuan grasped his implication. It seemed that in this era, frequenting courtesan houses at fourteen or fifteen was perfectly normal.
Alas!
Wouldn't such a lifestyle turn them into utterly useless individuals from childhood?
Just as he was lamenting, the broad-faced, wide-foreheaded boy of fourteen or fifteen spoke up. "Gentlemen, please don't just immerse yourselves in the music! I only came out with you because you promised we would drink and discuss serious affairs of state. Now, all you're doing is drinking and listening to songs, and not a single word about the nation has been uttered!"
The other young men, all in their twenties, merely chuckled. "What's the point of discussing affairs of state here? We came out to enjoy ourselves, naturally!"
The boy, undeterred, countered, "The nation is in grave peril already, don't you realize? Our southeastern seas are teeming with colossal Western ships, and there are Japanese, Arabs, Persians... their warships traverse vast oceans, traveling thousands of miles to reach us. Yet, our own small sailing vessels are confined to coastal waters. It's a perilous situation! The consequences are simply unthinkable!"
The young men in their twenties merely scoffed. "What danger are you speaking of? While the Westerners' ships are large, they are few in number and their fighting prowess is meager. Our magnificent Great Ming navy can send them scrambling in defeat with a single engagement!"
The fourteen or fifteen-year-old boy stammered, "But... you all..."
The group of young men simply dissolved into laughter. "Oh, look at that dance! And her waist... truly remarkable!"
The fourteen or fifteen-year-old boy clenched his fists, speechless for a moment. After several long seconds, he let out a sigh. "I cannot spend my days in idle amusement like you all. I must enlist! I will join the navy; I will fight against these Westerners!"
Their entire exchange unfolded before the eyes of Zhu Piaoling and Li Daoxuan.
Zhu Piaoling chuckled. "This boy has a spark; he'll undoubtedly achieve more than those other young men. They're just like my younger self—guaranteed to become utterly useless individuals as adults."
The Heavenly Lord chuckled, a note of reprimand in his voice. "So you recognize that yourself, do you?"
Zhu Piaoling sighed. "What else could I be but useless? There was truly nothing I could do. Even to step out and enjoy myself, I needed a double."
A wave of melancholy washed over him.
Li Daoxuan found it difficult to offer any further retort. From Zhu Piaoling's perspective, this solitary path was indeed the only one available.
Zhu Piaoling said, "But the boy's anxieties are perhaps a bit overblown. What is there to fear from Westerners? The true threat right now should be the Manchu."
The Heavenly Lord smiled. "No, this boy possesses remarkable foresight. The threat posed by the Westerners, though seemingly minor now, will far eclipse that of the Manchu in the future."
"What?" Zhu Piaoling gasped.
He knew the Heavenly Lord could peer five centuries into the past and five centuries into the future; if the deity declared it, then it must be true. He was instantly startled. "Greater than the Manchu?"
The Heavenly Lord instructed, "Go, call that young man over. Let's have a word with him."
Zhu Piaoling's spirits instantly perked up. "Yes, Heavenly Lord!"
He waved to the neighboring table and called out loudly, "Hey, young man! Yes, you! Stop looking around; I'm calling you over!"
The boy, with a bewildered expression, looked over.
Zhu Piaoling smiled. "I overheard you discussing the Westerners just now, and it seemed no one else was willing to listen. But I am. Would you care to join me and elaborate?"
The boy's eyes lit up. "You're willing to listen, sir?"
Zhu Piaoling nodded.
The young man was overjoyed. He bounded over to Zhu Piaoling's table. Despite his youth, his bearing was remarkably poised and self-assured. He settled into the seat opposite Zhu Piaoling with an air of distinct confidence. "Sir," he began, "what are your views on the affairs of the southeastern coast?"
Zhu Piaoling, who in truth possessed no personal views on the matter, could only parrot the Heavenly Lord's recent pronouncement. "I believe the threat from the Westerners, while not substantial at this moment, will prove far greater than that of the Manchu in the future..."
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